Twenty-sixth International Conference on Learning

Abstract

In the past few years we have witnessed the rise of right-wing populist movements characterized by xenophobia, authoritarianism, and hostility toward democratic institutions, diversity, and human rights. One of the factors behind the success of populist leaders is the manipulation of information and ideas through the emergence of a “fake news” industry. Populist movements have devised misinformation campaigns that speak to the fears and resentment of large segments of the population. There is considerable evidence to suggest that a better educated population means a swing to populist politics is less likely (Waller et al, 2017). Information literacy (IL)—the ability to filter, analyze, and think critically about information—is particularly relevant in the current political climate. IL skills make people less susceptible to manipulation and support a more informed democratic citizenship. As such, educators at all levels must help students to recognize the relationship between information, politics, and democracy, and to learn how information manipulation contributes to the rise of authoritarianism. In this session a Political Scientist and a Librarian will review how information is created and controlled, and the ways in which misinformation and the lack of IL skills threaten democracy. We will suggest the important roles of educators in helping students understand the creation, suppression, and dissemination of information, and will provide practical examples of the ways in which educators can help our students and others at all levels of education and in all sectors of society develop the skills required of citizens in a democratic society.